Curtain assembly and power drive therefor



Feb 9, 1954 J. H. LucKu-z 2,668,586

CURTAIN ASSEMBLY AND POWER DRIVE THEREFOR Filed March 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l l l I l l l l Y l l Il IV'II'IIII' ..............r nl |'.......w....,

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un n lllllllllllllllllllr Feb. 9, 1954 J. H. I UCKIE CURTAIN ASSEMBLY AND POWER DRVE THEREF'OR Filed March 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ted INL/ENTOR.

Patented Feb. 9, 1954 CURTAIN AssaMLY AND PGWER Dlt-IVE y 'rmimsro `Tlfelevision pictures are :displayed `on ascreen and 'the Ytelevision apparatus is A'contained in a housing that surrounds and isfbehind the screen.

v-Ih'e^object of; this invention is to temporarily conceal'thescreen and the housing 'by' a frame in which a curtain with a still picture thereon can be `exposed When #thete'lev-ision apparatus 'is not'in operation, which picture will conceal the television set.` lIt hasother ornamentalVv uses as well. Another object --othe invention is to provide the frame with two rollers vwhich will' carryva curtain on which a picture Wil-1 be displayed.

Another Iobject ofthe invention is to provide anjapparatsby which the Icurtain l andJ the I pic# ture Acan, be ldrawn to an exposed position to conceal the television 'setlvor vcan 'vbefrollel upon one of the rollers so vas to exposefthe vtelevision set-and its screen, while the curtain Yis concealed. --gThese and other-objects lofut'l-iev invention Will beiill-ustrated the drawings; described in *the specification and pointedputin the 'claims iat` the end'thereof.

Fig. 1 isIa-r'ontvsetional'viewrof;the-curtain and-ltheapparatus-by whichv it Cis ldrawn to exposed 'position-or--rolled -np and concealed; the cu-'rltam VAbeing lshown drawn half way down,v and the section being taken on the line =l--]-c'f Fig, '2. --lFig. .2- is a Ver-t'ical sect-ion takenlonethe line 2'2 lof Fig. 41.

3` isa 'verticalsection taken on thefline 3--3o'f Fig. 1.

y Fig. 4 "is a "horizontal section on-the lined-#4 ofJFigzl. v Fig. 5- is a perspective View got 'a part -oithe curtain fshown" in'Fig; 1 withthe marginaly strip attached thereto. l :f-Fig. 26.- `is 'agmodieduform oflthexeurtain Iand the marginestripl shownin Eig; 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectionalrview of the torsion spring that isinserted in theirollers icy vwhich the curtain 'isvdrawnmpor down. ".fFig; 8 is adiagrammaticview of fthe-electric circuit andthe-switchesjbywhich 'the current is fed .to vit-he motor -and Ivloywhich the #noter is driven.

Fig. i9v is Ya detail vvieni/#oi-one setfof the brackets by which: the frontframe-'is v'fastenedtothe rest Qrfchenousing.

In the drawings like reference `mimerals findi cate like parts.

-ralleati-hev drawingaureterence Snumeral i indicates the :oval7 openingofwhe-.teleisionf set hentai-ning thefscreen on which thepicture is-d-isplayed; lIhe 65 f topuha'l'i of-thissoval openingis-fshownin dotted lines because thelo'wervedge A2 pfrthe curtain 3 is drawnfdown vtocover the. upper halfY of the opening-and-leave thelower half exposed, which lower half is shown in full lines.

\ v4'Thiscurtain-vvll1en it is fullydrawndownconceals the televisioneset dand. .preferably rcarries some ypicture.that is' ornamental.

-One V-end -of `'this curtain is` permanently .attached tothe upper roller #and when the curtain isdrawn up land-,concealed A. it is wound around theroller 4f On leach. side edge-strip-of the. curtain 2 Ais fastened a marginal-fabric stripsimilar to the fabric that is used on either. .side `:of va zipper fastening, itv beingnnderstood that .all zipper fastenings comprise tWo-fabriostrips which can bejoined together side Aby. side. by. a `series of small metallic (interlocking clips that arefcarried .bytheqstrips rlhe strip? "8 on one side .of a zipper-.fastening can be fastened Vonone -edgef the curtainand the strip 9 on the other sideof-Ithe zipper fastening can beastenedon :the .other edgeso the curtainL it -beng .understood thatsthemetallicdevices--or'clips--on-fthesestrips do not engage with each other but these strips fw-ith their lclips vare used las a convenience ltogive rafsuitalole .stiff edging to the edge of the curtain.

The lmetallic vvclips yon .two strips of :the zipper are joined .together 'by aiasteningdevice which can be :moved alongthe` stripslin one direction to `bringzthe .metallic clips.A into interlocking engagement withveach-other or can be moved in the other direction vto separate them.

-As part lof ,my .invention `Ishave found that a series -of these fasteninggdevicescan be ,fastened stationary to each :upright .stationaryside member Y*of fthe frame .in which `.the..adges ofethe .curtain runs, andthe clipson the. .zipper stripscan be passed-through ya .series :of these` stationary fastening devices ,asf the curtain .is .moved Yup .and down, bywhich .the edges of: :the .curtainv will be guided l.firinlys in .amertical .path and :the kcurtain Willjbe properly-displayed without wrinkling.

...InvfEig 3 `the reference. :numeral Sindicatos a stationaryv upright memberiof 4.the .framethat Vis used to :guide the-edge :of the. curtain. -On the upright `memberv 6, 6 -at frequent lintervals vvis placed a serieso'f guiding orV fastening devices 1, onevof Awhichv -isshown rperspective-v-ieW inV vFig. 5.2 These fastening ydevices "are stationary/on 'fthe upright(member, and the'uclips 'lla-of the- Jzipper strips: f8 and yii/move -under or' throughthese fastening devices as the curtain -nioves so 'that the clips and the strips which carry them are firmly guided in a straight up and down path.

As shown in Fig. 1, thirteen of/these stationary fastening or guiding devices I are shown on each side of the frame.

The zipper strip 8 which is fastened to the left hand side of the curtain 3 in Fig. 1 extends along the margin of the curtain and below it and the lower end ofit is connected tothe roller da at the bottom of Fig. 1, and in like manner the zipper strip 9 is fastened to the right hand side of the curtain and extends down below it and the lower end of it is fastened to the roller du Y at the bottom.

Neither of these zipper strips Vis endless.

Each of them is about twice as long as the curtain.-

This is necessary because they connect'thelower vright hand side in Fig. 2.

horizontal member II and the bottom plate I2 y and the lower horizontal member I3. It also comprises the upright members IIS and i5 on either side of the frame. Between the upright members I4 and Iand the horizontal members I I and I3 an opening I6 is exposed.

To the top plate I0 is attached at each corner of the frame or housing a short angle Ii and to the bottom platey I2 at each corner of the frame or housing is attached'a short angle I8. These angles support the two stationary upright meme bers B on which are carried the fastening or guiding devices 'I shown in Fig. 5. Under these guiding devices the clips 7a must pass as the curtain moves `up and down.

On the right hand side in Fig. l and in Fig 2 is shown sprocket wheels 29 and 2i. These sprocket wheels are carried on the rollers 4 and la and the rollers are driven thereby. For the purpose of driving the sprocket wheels, the endless sprocket chain 22 is provided.

The sprocket chain 22 drives the roller da at the bottom and is driven "by the roller l at the top and this roller 4 is in turn driven by an electric motor 25 through a reducing gear box 2.6.

The front of the frame comprising the horizontal members I I and I3 and the upright members I4 and I5 can be removed bodily A.to expose the parts of the assembly concealed thereby. For this .purpose on each of the upright members I4 and I5 and on each of the horizontal members II and I3 is fastened two brackets such as are shown at 23 in Fig. 9. On each of these brackets is carried the spring clip 29. O-n the side panel of the frame is carried the bracket 39 on which is carried a pin 3|, which pin engages with the spring clip 29 in a slip connection. As two of these are used on each of the four members of the front frame, eight of these bracket assemblies are used in all, and they make it lpossible to easily remove the front frame from the rest of the housing or to put it in place again.

Carried on the inside of the horizontal member Il of the front frame are two spring clips IIa vand I Ib which engage over the curtain as it rolls up and unrolls and -holds it against slipping as it is either up or down.

In Fig. 8 I have shown the electrical connections by which the motor is driven or controlled.

On the endless chain 22 is provided two cross bars 34 and 35 suitably spaced apart from each other as shown in Fig. 2. These cross bars approach the switches one at a time and are located between the switches. One of these switches is located on one side of the chain and the other switch. is located' on the other side of the chain as shown at t-he right in Fig. 1. The switches 36 and 31 stand parallel to each other as shown in Fig. l and are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8. As the cross bar 34 moves up on the righthand side in Fig. 2 and down on the left hand side the curtain is drawn up at the same time and the endless chain 22 draws the cross bar 35 Vdown on the left hand side and up on the This cross bar 35 does not make contact with the switches when the cross bar moves down from above. This cross bar 34 in approaching the switches 35 and 3l from above moves the switch 33 down from the full line position to the dotted line position in Fig. 8 and opens the circuit therefore stopping the movement of therchain, curtain and motor. It also moves the switch 3l' from the full line position to the dotted line position closing the circuit on that side which remains inactive until the manually operated switch 38 is moved, to the left in Fig. 8. In the meantime both circuits are open. This movement of the chain 22 causes the curtain to be drawn up out oi' sight.

When the manual switch 38 is moved to the left in Fig. 8 then the circuit controlled by the switch 3l' and the motor 25 is energized and the chain 22 moves in the reverse direction causing the cross bar 35 to move up in which case it closes the switch 36 and opens the switch 31.

This leaves both circuits open with the curtain drawn down and exposed until the manually operated switch 3E is moved again'to cause the curtain to move in the other direction.

When the cross ybar 35 is up and the contact 34 is down the curtain will be fully exposed and the television screen will be concealed and when the contact 34 has approached the switches from above and operated them, the curtain will fbe wound up and concealed and the television screen will be exposed.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a torsion spring such as is commonly used in roller curtains. One of these springs is placed in the right hand end of the upper roller 4 and another of these springs is placed in the left hand end of the lower roller da. When the 4curtain bar 2 is pulled down the torsional spring in the upper roller is wound up and the torsional spring in the lower roller is unwound. When the curtain is raised the torsional spring in the lower roller is ywound up and the torsional spring in the upper roller is unwound.

It will be understood that this curtain supporting and operating device can be made separate from a television set and could be used to conceal a wall safe, a motion picture projector, etc., or it can be used for the ornamental purpose of closing any kind of an opening.

It will also be understood that by opening the manually operated switch 38 while the curtain is in motion, the curtain may be stopped in any desired position.

I claim:

1. A curtain assembly comprising a frame having horizontal top and bottom members and upright side members, an upper roller at. the top of giocatori.

the Eframe@vcz'itl'iv bearingstheretor and acloiwer rollerat"l thefbottom fof the frame with bearings therefor, a curtain-having oneendfastened to one-lofl said rollersf-'andthe'vothenend'fofl the curtain left freer a' `'horizontal `i-einforcingw bar bei-ng vfastened-to thefree' end of `the curtain.

a flexible strip fastened to each side ofthe curtain andits'roller and extending the length of the curtain and 4beyond thevcurtain -andbeing attached tothe other roller,y eachiof said strips being about twice the length v"of the saidcurtain and about-twice as long-as the Idistance by which they centers-of the-'rollers are spaced-apart, a series -of relatively closelyspaced cleats `on 'each of said strips-,saidstripsand vcleats being suffieiently exible toA roll upon either of said rollers,` a-series-of guide Vmer'nbers'on eachofth'e upright side members of V'the"f1amet1r1ier which said cleats onthe stripsmust pass as the horizontal curtain -bar moves away from one rollerv and moves toward the other roller,'saidcle'ats and guide-members coast-ing to 'tension said curtain laterally thereof.

f 2. A curtain assembly comprising a frame having horizontal top and bottom members and upright side members, an upper roller at the top ofthe frame with bearings therefor and a lower roller at the bottom ofthe frame with bearings therefor, a curtain having one end fastened to one oi said rollers and the other end of the curtain left" free, aA horizontal reinforcing bar being fastened tothe free end 'of the curtain, a ilexible strip fastened to each side of the curtain andits roller and extending the length of the curtain and beyond the curtain and being attached tothe other roller, each of said strips being about twice the length ofthe said curtain and about twice as long as the distance by which the `centers rof 'the rollers are spaced apart, a series of relatively closely 'spaced'cleats on each of said'strips, lsaid` strips and'cleats being sufficiently iiexible to roll upon either 'of said rollers, afseries of guide members on eachof the upright side membersY of the frame under which said cleats on the strips must pass as the horizontal curtain bar moves away from one roller and moves toward Vthe 'other roller, said cleats and guidemembers coacting to tensionisaid curtain laterally thereof, sprocket wheels -on each of said rollers; an endlesschain geared to said sprocket wheels for the purpose 4of Y causing said rollers to loe-rotated in unison.

3; In a curtain assembly the combination of a curtain and a roller, an endless chain for turning the'roller, said endless chain having two parallel runsytwo electric switches, one placed on each of the opposite sides of ther endless chain, two cross bars on said endless'chain suitably spaced apart thereon, one'of said cross bars on approaching said switches from'above opening one of the switches and closing'the other switch thereby stopping the movement of the chain and curtain, the otherl cross bar on approaching said switches from below closing the rst named switch and opening the second named Aswitch thereby again stopping the movement of the chain and curtain, a manually operated switch for energizing the circuit containing the bareclosed switch in. either case and starting the movementonthe curtain in the opposite direction..

4.1m. a curtainassennibly-'thev combination of a' curtain and av roller,=anrendless chain for turning theroller, .said endlessY chain having -twoparallel runs two, electricswitches,u onelplacedvon leachJ 'of' 6l the vopposite sides-fof the'fendless ichain,- icircuits and ya motorenergizablethrough said iswitches, twocross 1 bars onsaid: endl-ess fch`ain,'- suitably spaced apartfthereon; yone i'ofsaid cross bars on approachingsaid switches :from sabove :opening one fof the switches and closing thel other switch thereby vdeem-ergizing-the l-circuit j-ustfopened :and stopping the movement 'of the chain and curtain, the other cross baron approach-ing'saidswitches from-below closing'the/ first named-switch and opening 'the second' Anamed Aswitch;l'therelaayfdeenergizing the newlyropened circuitandagain stopping the movement 'of fthe'chain and curtain, a. manually:v operated switch for energizing the circuit containing the bariclesed switch in 4'either case and starting i the` movementtof' the curtain in the opposite direction.

5. A `curtain-assembly -fcomprisingav frame, spaced parallelrolls mountedat opposite ends of said frame, a flexible curtain operatively mounted upon said rolls and adapted 4to-be drawn across said framefrom one offsaidfrolls, parallel guide means along the opposite sides v'of said frame 'and lying substantially in the plane of the curtain whenl drawn across saidYfra-me, means carried bythe opposite side edgesof the curtain and cooperating with said. guide -means, 7saidguide means and side edge means oniopposite sides fof the curtain comprising aeseries--otclipssecured to the outer edges of said curtain-said clips being relatively narrow and spacedIso-asj-to flex with the curtain, each of said-clipshavingfnwardly contacting shoulder face .means adapted -to 'cooperate with outwardly-directed sur-faces off'lsaid guide means, said guide means and side-'edge means tensioning said curtain-'transversely thereof when drawn across saidtrame.

6.- A curtain assemblycomprising a frame, spaced parallel rolls .mountedfat oppositeends kof said frame, a flexible curtain operatively mounted upon said rolls and adapted to :be' ldrawn across said frame from one -or" said rolls, parallel guide means along the opposite sidesof-'said frame and lying substantially in the plane ofthe curtain when drawn across said frame; Imeans carried by thefopposite side edges lfofthe curtain and-cooperating with saidguide means,-saidguide means and side edge 'means' on opposite sides off' the curtain comprising a series "ofclips secured `-to vthe outer edges of said curtain; said clips being rela-- tively Anarrow and spaced so as'to'diex with the curtain, each of said clips havingffinwardly contacting shoulder face means 'adapted tocooperate with outwardly direct-ed surfacesof said-guide means, said guide means -andsi'de edgemeans tensioning said curtain transversely thereof when drawn across said `frame, -and'reversible means to operate said rollsv in one `direction to idraw'said curtain across saidvfrarne, and'in" the other'direction to roll saidcurtain on theone of said rolls.

'7. A curtain assembly Vcormzmrisi'ng aA frame, spaced parallel rolls mounted'atA opposite endsiof said frame, a-flexible 'curtain operatively mounted upon Vsaidrolls and adapted to beedrawn across said frame from one'vof said `rolls;--para^llel-guide means along theopposite sides of-saicl frame and lying substantially in the-plane :of'the'curtain when -drawnacross saidiframe, vmeans carried Yby the opposite side edges ofthe ourtainand cooperating with vsaid guide means, vsaidpguide means and side edge means on opposite sides -of the curtain comprising a series of clipsffsecured'to Vthe outer edges-of said curtainysaid clips beingf'relatively narrow `and spaced so as-to` lexswithrthe curtain,- each of- -saidclips hav-inginwardly -con tacting shoulder face means adapted to cooperate with'outwardly directed surfaces of said guide means, said guide means and side edge means tensioning said curtain transversely thereof when drawn across said frame, reversible power means to operate said rolls in one direction to draw said curtain across said frame, and in the other direction to roll said curtain on the one of said rolls, and means responsive to movement of the curtain to a position when drawn across said frame or Vwhen rolled on said one roll, for establishing limits to stop said power means.

8. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, spaced parallel rolls mounted at opposite ends of said frame, a flexible curtain operatively mounted upon said rolls and adapted to be drawn across said frame from one of said rolls, parallel guide means of key slot section along the opposite sides of said frame and lying substantially in the plane of the curtain when drawn across said frame, iiexible bead means carried by the opposite side edges of the curtain and sliding within said key slot section guide means, said guide means and side edge bead means on opposite sides of the curtain being so spaced as to act to tension said curtain transversely thereof when drawn across said frame.

9. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, spaced parallel rolls mounted at opposite ends of said frame, a flexible curtain operatively mounted upon said rolls and adapted to be drawn across said frame from one of 4said rolls, parallel guide means of key slot section along the opposite sides of said frame and lying substantially in the plane of the curtain when drawn across said frame, exible bead means carried by the opposite side edges of the curtain and sliding within said key slot section guide means, said guide means and side edge bead means on opposite sides of the curtain being so spaced as to act to tension said curtain transversely thereof when drawn across said frame, and reversible means to operate said rolls in one direction to draw said curtain across said frame, and in the other direction to roll said curtain on the one of said rolls.

10. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, spaced parallel rolls mounted. at opposite ends of saidframe, a flexible curtain operatively mounted Aupon said rolls and adapted to be drawn across said frame from one of said rolls, parallel guide means of key slot section along the opposite sides of said frame and lying substantially in the plane of the curtain Vwhen drawn across said frame, flexible bead means carried by the opposite side edges of the curtain and sliding within said key slotl section guide means, said guide means and side edge bead means on opposite sides of the curtain being so spaced as to act to tension said curtain transversely thereof when drawn across said frame, reversible power means to operate said rolls in one direction to draw said curtain across said fra-me, and in the other direction to roll said curtain on the one of said rolls, and means responsive to movement of the curtain to a position when drawn across said frame or when rolled on said one roll for establishing limits to stop said power means.

l1. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, spaced parallel rolls mounted at opposite ends of said frame, a flexible curtain operatively mounted upon said rolls and adapted to be drawn across said frame from one of said rolls, parallel guide means along the opposite sides of said frame and lying substantially in the plane of the curtain when drawn across said frame and having guid- 8 ing edges facing away from said curtain, flexible means carried by the opposite side edges of the curtain and overlying and riding on said guiding edges, said guide means and said side edge means on opposite sides of the curtain tensioning said curtain transversely thereof when drawn across said frame.

12. In a curtain assembly, a pair of spaced parallel rolls, means for supporting said rolls in spaced relation, a exible curtain for said rolls of a length approximating the distance between said rolls, marginal flexible strips secured along the opposite side edges of said curtain and extending beyond one end of said curtain, said curtain and strips being connected to one of said rolls for rolling and unrolling therefrom, and the extending ends of said strips being connected to the other of said rolls, iiexible clip means secured to the outer edges of said strips, and parallel spaced guide means mounted on said supporting means extending along the outer edges of the unrolled portion of said strips, said guide means comprising opposed guiding elements coacting With said clips to tension said curtain laterally thereof.

13. In a curtain assembly, a pair of spaced parallel rolls, means for supporting said rolls in spaced relation, a liexible curtain for said rolls of a length approximatingthe distance between said rolls, marginal flexible strips secured along the opposite side edges of said curtain and extending beyond one end of said curtain, said curtain and strips being connected to one of said rolls for rolling and unrolling therefrom, and the extending ends of said strips being connected to the other of said rolls, exible clip means secured to the outer edges of said strips, parallel spaced guide means mounted on said supporting means extending along the outer edges of the unrolled portion of said strips, said guide means comprising opposed guiding elements coacting with said clips to tension said curtain laterally thereof, and a stiening element secured along the end edge of said curtain from which the extending ends of said Strip extend.

14. In aY curtain assembly, a pair of spaced parallel rolls, means for supporting said rolls in spaced relation, a exible curtain for said rolls of a length approximating the distance between said rolls, marginal flexible strips secured along the opposite side edges of said curtain and extending beyond one end of said curtain, said curtain and strips being connected to one of said rolls for rolling and unrolling therefrom, and the extending ends of said strips being connected to the other of said rolls, flexible clip means secured to the outer edges of said strips, parallel spaced guide means mounted on said supporting means extending along the outer edges of the unrolled portion of said strips, said guide means comprising oppositely facing guiding elements coacting with said clips to tension said curtain laterally thereof, and reversible means for driving one roll and the other for unrolling and rolling said curtain on said one roll, and curtain position responsive means for controlling said driving means.

l5. In a curtain assembly, a pair of spaced parallel rolls, means for supporting said rolls in spaced relation, a flexible curtain for said rolls of a length approximating the distance between said rolls, marginal flexible strips secured along the opposite side edges of said curtain and extending beyond one end of said curtain,

saidcurt'ainrand strips beingf-connectedfto one of: 'said rrolls fofr rolling;gandunrolling,therefrom, and fthe extending ends` .of .said -stripsbeingconnected-to vtheother of :said rolls, exible clip means secured to' the. outeri ,edges of; said strips, parallel spaced guide means mounted on said supporting lmeans 4extending along the outer edges of the unrolled portion of said strips, said guide. means comprising *opposed guidingv 1 elements coactingwith said'clips toqtension said curtain laterally thereof, a Ystiiiening element secured along the end edge of said curtain'irom which the `extending ends "of: said strip extend, and reversible means-forselectively driving said rolls for unrollingrandrolling,said curtain on said-one roll, and 4rcurtainrposition responsive means for controlling vsaid Ndriving means..

16. A curtain mfor use' inpav curtainu assembly having spaced rolls and laterally extending stationary guide 'means' `having `outwardly vdirected guide surfaces; comprising,v a rectangular flexible curtain, exible 'side strips Ysecured'to the side edges of said curtain-'said `side strips extending beyond one end of the curtain a distance substantially the lengthoffsaid curtain, and a series of clips secured tothe outer edges of said side "strips along-the length of said curtain, said clips being relatively narrow and spaced and iiexingwith 'said' strips,; and eachiof; `said clipshaving inwardly facing'shoulder face means adapted to cooperate with 'outwardlyjdirected guide surfaces-"of Vvthe Astationary guide means mounted therealong, whereby said curtain may be tensioned laterally by coaction with said guide means along substantially its entire length.

17. A curtain `assembly comprising an open frame for viewing a television screen or the like located therebehind, parallel rolls mounted along opposite side edges of said frame, a flexible curtain rigidly Iattached to said rollers and adapted to vunroll from either roll and roll on the other and extend across said frame, said curtain having an open portion to expose said frame in one end position and a screening portion to cover said frame in another end position, drive means connected to each of said rolls, and common means for positively driving said drive means at the same speed, and means for terminating the movement of said common means for establishing end limits between which said common means may move, said end limits being coordinated with the end positions of said curtain.

18. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, parallel rolls mounted along opposite side edges of said frame, a flexible curtain rigidly attached to said rolls and yadapted to roll spirally thereon, and adapted to unroll from either roll and roll on the other, with an intermediate portion extending across said frame, said curtain having an open portion to expose said frame when in one end position and a screening portion to cover said frame in another end position, and means for driving said rolls in unison, whereby to increase the lengthwise tension on said curtain as end positions are approached.

19. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, parallel rolls mounted along opposite side edges of said frame, a iiexible curtain rigidly attached to said rolls and adapted to roll spirally thereon, and adapted to unroll from either roll and roll on the other, with an intermediate portion extending across said frame, said curtain having an open portion to expose said frame when in one end position and a screening portion to cover l0 said frame in another-tendposition,f;a;:stiffehmg member extending across,l said 'curtainybetween the screening and open portions, and means ,for driving said rolls inunison;:wherebyq-tofincrease the lengthwise tension on1said; curtainras end positions are approached.

20. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, parallel rolls mounted alongopposite.side edges of said frame, a flexible Kcurtain rigidly, attached to. said rolls and adapted to roll .spirally'thereon and adaptedto unroll from eitherzrollandiroll on the other, with an'intermediate-portion:extending across vsai frame, said4 curtainhavingran open portion vto expose. .said frame: ywhen :inzone end position and a screening portion to cover said frame in another end position;v astiien-ing member extending across` said curtain between the screening and openportions, ymeans including frame-supported .guides .and curtaineJcarr-ied elements extending along the other sidexedges'; of said frame and along the oppositefed'gesfof said curtain, respectively, for laterally tensioning Said curtain;and means .for driving said-,rollsginpunison, whereby to increase the Alengthwise derision lon said curtain as end positions are approached.

21. A curtain assembly Lcomprising-a:.frame, parallel rolls mounted alongcpposite sideedges of said frame, a flexible curtain rigidly attached to said rolls and adapted to roll spirally thereon, and adapted'to unrollfrom eithenrollandiroll on the other, with an'interinediate; vportiornextending across said frame, said.curtainhavjn`g an open portion to i exposeisaidizirame when-inrone end position, and a screening portion to cover said frame in another end position, means for driving said rolls in unison, whereby to increase the lengthwise tension on said curtain as the closed end position is approached, and means coordinated with said driving means for terminating movement thereof at a xed position for establishing said closed position.

22. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, parallel rolls mounted along opposite side edges of said frame, a flexible curtain rigidly attached to said rolls and adapted to roll spirally thereon,

and adapted to unroll from either roll and roll on the other, with an intermediate portion extending across said frame, said curtain having an open portion to expose said frame when in one end position, and a screening portion to cover said frame in another end position, a stiffening member extending across said curtain between the screening and open portions, means for driving said rolls in unison, whereby to increase the lengthwise tension on said curtain as the closed end position is approached, and means coordinated with said driving means for terminating movement thereof at a xed position for establishing said closed position.

23. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, parallel rolls mounted along opposite side edges of said frame, a flexible curtain rigidly attached to said rolls and adapted to roll spirally thereon, and adapted to unroll from either roll and roll on the other, with an intermediate portion extending across said frame, said curtain having an open portion to expose said frame when in one end position, and a screening portion to cover said frame in another end position, a stiffening member extending across said curtain between the screening and open portions, means including frame-supported guides and curtain-carried elements extending along the other side edges of said frame and along the opposite edges of said curtain, respectively, for laterally tensioning 'said curtain, means for driving said'rolls in unison, whereby to increase the lengthwise tension on said curtain as the closed end position is approached, and means coordinated with said driving means for terminating movement thereof at a xed position for establishing said closed position.

24. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, parallel rolls mounted along opposite side edges of said frame, a exible curtain rigidly attached Ato said rolls and adapted to roll spirally thereon,

and adapted to unroll from either roll and roll on the other, with an intermediate portion eX- tending across said frame, said curtain having an open portion to expose said frame when in one end position and a screening portion to cover said frame in another end position, and means for driving said rolls in unison, whereby to increase the lengthwise tension on said curtain as end positions are approached, said means including like sprockets drivably connected to said rolls and a chain.

25. A curtain assembly comprising a frame, parallel rolls mounted along opposite side edges of said frame, a exible curtain rigidly attached tc said rolls and adapted to roll spirally thereon, and adapted to unroll from either roll and roll on the other, with an intermediatev portion extending across said frame, said curtain having an open portion to expose said frame when in one end position and a screening portion to cover said frame in another end position, means for driving said rolls in unison, whereby to increase the lengthwise tension on said curtain as end -positions are approached, said means including References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 484,978 Rich Oct. 25, 1892 730,440 Duchemin June 9, 1903 797,652 Wilson Aug. 22, 1905 881,507 Wallen Mar. 10, 1908 924,255 Martin June 8, 1909 953,837 Haynes Apr. 5, 1910 957,207 Harrison May 10, 1910 V970,130 Smith Sept. 13, 1910 1,068,011 Shmit July 22, 1913 1,259,549 ONeill Mar. 19, 1918 1,539,774 Sato May 26, 1925 1,677,230 De Mercurio July 17, 1928 1,741,922 Dixson Dec. 3l, 1929 1,762,480 Marenti June 10, 1930 1,764,880 Nelson June 17, 1930 1,922,389 INye Aug. 15, 1933 2,343,369 Derman Mar. 7, 1944 2,407,784 Hoistad Sept. 17, 1946 2,501,454 Schueren Mar. 21, 1950 2,513,152 Delivuk June 27, 1950 

